Transverse anchor arrangement for a turbine powerplant

ABSTRACT

Anchor blocks for a steam turbine in an electric power plant are embedded in a concrete foundation supplied by the customer. The anchor blocks are provided with keying portions utilized to maintain axial and transverse alignment of one or more cylinders or casings of the turbine units and the generator driven by the turbine. After final alignment of the equipment, L-shaped liners are snugly fitted between the keying portions of the anchor blocks and lugs on the turbine casing, also the generator frame.

United States Patent Inventors Thorlelfllaug Cherry Hill, 51.1.; JosephG. Chiarolanza, Philadelphia, Pa.; Peter S. Zeimann. Glen Mills. Pa.;James A. Duncan, Millbrae, Calif.

App1..\'o. 805,242

Filed Mar. 7, 1969 Patented June 29, 1971 Assignee Westinghouse ElectricCorporation Pittsburgh, Pa.

TRANSVERSE ANCHOR ARRANGEMENT FOR A TURBINE POWERPLANT 7 Claims, 4Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 290/52, 290/1.415/134, 248/19 Int. Cl HOZk 7/18 Field of Search248/19, 23;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.678 968 7/1928 Allen t.248/D1G. 1 l.8l4,626 7/l93l Allen 248/19 1.814.627 7/1931 Allen....248/D1G. 1 1.986.132 1/1935 Bigelowm. 248/DIG. 1 2,128,805 8/1938 Doran1 248/DIG. 1 2356.721 8/1941 Hagemann 248/DlG. 1 2531.178 11/1950 Nest290/52 X 2,797,897 7/1957 Persson 248/D1G. 1

Primary ExaminerG R. Simmons Anorneys A. T Stratton, F. P. Lyle and F.Cristiano, Jr.

ABSTRACT: Anchor blocks for a steam turbine in an electric power plantare embedded in a concrete foundation supplied by the customer. Theanchor blocks are provided with keying portions utilized to maintainaxial and transverse alignment of one or more cylinders or casings ofthe turbine units and the generator driven by.the turbine. After finalalignment of the equipment, L-shaped liners are snugly fitted betweenthe keying portions of the anchor blocks and lugs on the turbine casing,also the generator frame.

PATENTED JUNZS l9?! SHEET 1 [IF 2 INVENTORS Thorleif Houg,Joseph G.Chiorolonzo, Peter 5. 29873000 and James A. Duncan PATENTEI] JUN29 19msum 2 or 2 R ART TRANSVERSE ANCHOR ARRANGEMENT FOR A TURBINE POWERPLANTBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates, generally, toelastic fluid machines and, more particularly, to the anchoringoflow-pressure cylinders or casings of turbines and electric generatorsof turbine power plant installations.

The stationary parts, namely, the turbine casings and the generator, ofaturbine installation are not rigidly bolted to the customers foundation.Axial and transverse movement, due to thermal gradients during normaloperation of an elastic fluid turbine, has been controlled by anchoringseating plates to the foundation and then utilizing keys to maintain therequired alignment between the seating plates and the turbine casingsand the generator frame.

Heretofore, a customer of a turbine manufacturer has been required toinstall steel backing plates in the foundation to the correct centerlineand elevation during the construction stages of the foundation. Themanufacturer furnished transverse anchor blocks which were bolted anddoweled to the customer's backing plates. After final alignment of theequipment, L-shaped liners were fitted between the anchor blocks and thecylinder seating plates, and also the generator frame to maintaincoaxial alignment of the turbine of the turbine casings and thegenerator.

The prior method has caused the customer considerable concern because ofthe difficulty in maintaining the backing plates at the correctelevation and in a level plane during the construction of thefoundation. In order to have a level plate it has often been necessaryto machine the backing plate after it has been anchored in place in thefoundation. Also, field bolting and doweling is an expensive operation.

An object of this invention is to simplify the alignment ofa turbine andgenerator assembly on a fixed foundation.

Another object of the invention is to provide for maintaining theassembly in position after it has been aligned.

Other objects of the invention will be explained fully hereinafter orwill be apparent to those skilled in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one embodiment of theinvention, the purchaser of a steam turbine builds a concrete foundationfor the turbine and generator assembly. Transverse anchor blocks arecast into the foundation at substantially the axial centerline of theturbine. Upwardly extending projections on the blocks extend aboveseating plates bolted to the foundation to support the turbinelow-pressure cylinders or casings. After final alignment of the turbinecasings and the generator, L shaped liners are fitted between the anchorblocksand lugs on the casings and the generator frame to maintaincoaxial alignment of the turbine casings and the generator. The anchorblocks also serve as axial keys for the low-pressure cylinder bases bybeing fitted directly to the bases instead of the seating plates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS ving the manner of installing atransverse anchor block and a seating plate for the turbine inaccordance with the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a view, similar to FIG. 2, showing the manner ofinstalling thetransverse anchor block, the seating plate and the turbine casing inaccordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of one of the liners utilized inthe installation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing,particularly to FIG. 1, the apparatus shown therein includes a steamturbine cylinder or casing 10 and a portion of an electric generator 11driven by the turbine. The casing 10 may be a low-pressure unit of acompound turbine including one or more low-pressure units and ahigh-pressure unit (not shown) connected to each other in tandem throughwhich high-temperature steam flows before entering the low-pressureunit. The casing 10 and the generator 11 are mounted on a concretefoundation 12. As shown more clearly in FIG. 3, the casing 10 issupported on a steel seating plate 13 which may be secured to thefoundation 12 by a plurality of bolts 14 embedded in the foundation 12.

As previously explained, the stationary parts of a steam turbineinstallation, namely, the turbine cylinders or casings and the generatorare not rigidly bolted to the customer's foundation. Heretofore,movement, axial and transverse, due to the thermal gradients in thenormal operation of elastic fluid turbines, has been controlled byanchoring seating plates to the foundation and then utilizing keys tomaintain the required alignment between the seating plates and thecasings and the generator.

As shown in FIG. 2,which is representative of the prior art, a customerof a turbine manufacturer has been required to install steel backingplates 15 in the foundation 12 to the correct centerline and elevationduring the construction stages of the foundation. The manufacturer hassupplied transverse anchor blocks 16 (only one being shown) which arebolted and doweled to the backing plates 15 by means of a plurality ofbolts 17 and dowel pins 18. A keyway 19 is shown in the seating plate 13for receiving one of the axial keys previously utilized in theinstallation.

As explained hereinbefore, the prior method of installation has caused acustomer considerable concern because of the difficulty in maintainingthe backing plate at the correct elevation and in a level plane duringthe construction of the foundation. In order to have a level plate, itoften has been necessary to machine the backing plate after it has beeninstalled in place in the foundation. Furthermore, the bolting anddoweling of the anchor block to the backing plate in the field is anexpensive operation, since the backing plate must be drilled in place toreceive the anchor block.

-In accordance with the present invention, the backing plates previouslyutilized are eliminated, together with the drilling and doweling, andthe transverse anchor blocks 16 are cast in the foundation 12 during itsconstruction. As shown more clearly in FIG. 1, an anchor block 16 isdisposed at one end of the casing 10 and a similarblock 16a is disposedat the other end of the casing. The anchor blocks are substantially onthe axial centerline L-L of the turbine. It will be understood that anadditional anchor block may be provided at the other end of thegenerator 11 and an additional block would also be provided at the otherend of another low-pressure turbine casing when utilized.

As shown in FIG. 3, the block 16 has a keying portion 21 which extendsupwardly past the seating plate 13 and between a pair of transverselyspaced, axially extending projections or lugs 22 on the turbine casing10. Preferably, the lugs 22 are formed integrally with the base ofthecasing 10.

As shown in FIG. I, the anchor block is similar to the block 16 exceptthat at least the keying portion of block 16a is of sufficient thicknessaxially to extend between axially extending lugs 23 on the frame of thegenerator 11 and the neighboring lugs 22 on the turbine casing 10,thereby enabling the one block 160 to cooperate with both the turbinecasing 10 and the frame of the generator 11 to maintain them in coaxialalignment. Likewise, when an additional turbine unit is provided intandem, the block 16 would be of sufficient thickness axially to extendbetween lugs 22-on the adjacent casing of the additional turbine unit.

The projections 21 are of narrower width than the spacing between theassociated lugs 22 to facilitate alignment, and after final alignment ofthe equipment, snug-fitting L-shapecl liners 24 are fitted in the gapsbetween the anchor blocks and since sufficient clearance 27 is providedbetween the anchor block and the baseof the turbine casing toaccommodate thermal expansion of the casing. Thus, the anchor blockherein described serves as an axial key for the turbine casingsince itis fitted directly to the casing instead of to the seating plate, as inprior constructions. Furthermore, the steel backing plates and thedifficulties of installing them are eliminated by utilizing thetransverse anchor blocks in the manner herein described.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the manner ofinstalling and coaxially aligning turbine units and a generator driventhereby is simplified as compared with the prior manner of installingthe equipment. Furthermore, the present manner of installation requiresless material than the prior manner.

Since numerous changes may be made in the abovedescribed constructionand different embodiments of the invention may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all subjectmatter contained in the foregoing description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an elastic fluid turbine installation, in combination,

an elastic fluid turbine casing,

a concrete foundation for the casing,

a seating plate supporting the casing on the foundation,

at least two axially spaced anchor blocks embedded in the foundation inplanestransverse to-the axial centerline of the casing substantially atthe axial centerline, one of said blocks disposed on each side of eachturbine,

axially extending projections on said casing,

said projections formed in pairs at opposite ends of said casing andbeing in spaced relation in a plane transverse to the axial centerlineof said casing,

one of said anchor blocks disposed between each pair of projections,

said blocks having keying portions extending upwardly above the seatingplate and between said projections, to thereby facilitate alignment ofsaid casing.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said projections are lugsformed integrally on the casing.

3. The combination defined in claim 1, including liners snugly disposedbetween the keying portions of the anchor blocks and the projections onthe casing to retain the casing in an aligned position and to restraintransverse movement of the casing but permit limited axial movement ofthe casing.

4. The combination defined in claim 3, wherein each liner is L-shapedwith one leg retaining the liner in position.

5. The combination defined in claim 1, including a generator with aframe mounted on the foundation, and

at least one of said blocks cooperating with the generator frame toretain it in coaxial alignment with the turbine casing.

6. The combination defined in claim 5, including transversely spacedprojections on the generator from extending axially toward theprojections on the turbine casing to cooperate with said one anchorblock.

7. The combination defined in claim 6, wherein at least the keyingportion of said one anchor block is of sufficient thickness axially toextend between the projections on the casing and on the generator frame.

1. In an elastic fluid turbine installation, in combination, an elasticfluid turbine casing, a concrete foundation for the casing, a seatingplate supporting the casing on the foundation, at least two axiallyspaced anchor blocks embedded in the foundation in planes transverse tothe axial centerline of the casing substantially at the axialcenterline, one of said blocks disposed on each side of said turbine,axially extending projections on said casing, said projections formed inpairs at opposite ends of said casing and being in spaced relation in aplane transverse to the axial centerline of said casing, one of saidanchor blocks disposed between each pair of projections, said blockshaving keying portions extending upwardly above the seating plate andbetween said projections, to thereby facilitate alignment of saidcasing.
 2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said projectionsare lugs formed integrally on the casing.
 3. The combination defined inclaim 1, including liners snugly disposed between the keying portions ofthe anchor blocks and the projections on the casing to retain the casingin an aligned position and to restrain transverse movement of the casingbut permit limited axial movement of the casing.
 4. The combinationdefined in claim 3, wherein each liner is L-shaped with one legretaining the liner in position.
 5. The combination defined in claim 1,including a generator with a frame mounted on the foundation, and atleast one of said blocks cooperating with the generator frame to retainit in coaxial alignment with the turbine casing.
 6. The combinationdefined in claim 5, including transversely spaced projections on thegenerator from extending axially toward the projections on the turbinecasing to cooperate with said one anchor block.
 7. The combinationdefined in claim 6, wherein at least the keying portion of said oneanchor block is of sufficient thickness axially to extend between theprojections on the casing and on the generator frame.